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IMDbPro

Claudette Colbert(1903-1996)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Claudette Colbert, circa 1946.
The Two Mrs. Grenvilles
Play trailer0:30
Grenvillen kaksi naista (1987)
17 Videos
99+ Photos
One of the brightest film stars to grace the screen was born Emilie Claudette Chauchoin on September 13, 1903, in Saint Mandé, France where her father owned a bakery at 57, rue de la République (now Avenue Général de Gaulle). The family moved to the United States when she was three. As Claudette grew up, she wanted nothing more than to play to Broadway audiences (in those days, any actress or actor worth their salt went for Broadway, not Hollywood). After her formal education ended, she enrolled in the Art Students League, where she paid for her dramatic training by working in a dress shop. She made her Broadway debut in 1923 in the stage production of "The Wild Wescotts". It was during this event that she adopted the name Claudette Colbert.

When the Great Depression shut down most of the theaters, Claudette decided to make a go of it in films. Her first film was called For the Love of Mike (1927). Unfortunately, it was a box-office disaster. She wasn't real keen on the film industry, but with an extreme scarcity in theatrical roles, she had no choice but to remain. In 1929 she starred as Joyce Roamer in The Lady Lies (1929). The film was a success and later that year she had another hit entitled The Hole in the Wall (1929). In 1930 she starred opposite Fredric March in Manslaughter (1930), which was a remake of the silent version of eight years earlier. A year after that Claudette was again paired in a film with March, Honor Among Lovers (1931). It fared well at the box-office, probably only because it was the kind of film that catered to women who enjoyed magazine fiction romantic stories. In 1932 Claudette played the evil Poppeia in Cecil B. DeMille's last great work, Ristin merkki (1932), and once again was cast with March. Later the same year she was paired with Jimmy Durante in The Phantom President (1932). By now Claudette's name symbolized good movies and she, along with March, pulled crowds into the theaters with the acclaimed Tonight Is Ours (1933).

The next year started a little on the slow side with the release of Four Frightened People (1934), where Claudette and her co-stars were at odds with the dreaded bubonic plague on board a ship. However, the next two films were real gems for this young actress. First up, Claudette was charming and radiant in Cecil B. DeMille's spectacular Kleopatra (1934). It wasn't one of DeMille's finest by any means, but it was a financial success and showcased Claudette as never before. However, it was as Ellie Andrews, in the now famous Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934), that ensured she would be forever immortalized. Paired with Clark Gable, the madcap comedy was a mega-hit all across the country. It also resulted in Claudette being nominated for and winning the Oscar that year for Best Actress. IN 1935 she was nominated again for Kätketty maailma (1935), where she played Dr. Jane Everest, on the staff at a mental institution. The performance was exquisite. Films such as The Gilded Lily (1935), Liekehtivä erämaa (1939) and Sankari ja valloittaja (1943) kept fans coming to the theaters and the movie moguls happy. Claudette was a sure drawing card for virtually any film she was in. In 1944 she starred as Anne Hilton in Kunnes palaat (1944). Again, although she didn't win, Claudette picked up her third nomination for Best Actress.

By the late 1940s and early 1950s she was not only seen on the screen but the infant medium of television, where she appeared in a number of programs. However, her drawing power was fading somewhat as new stars replaced the older ones. In 1955 she filmed the western Revolverihurjimus (1955) and wasn't seen on the screen again until Unohtumaton kesä (1961). It was her final silver screen performance. Her final appearance before the cameras was in a TV movie, Grenvillen kaksi naista (1987). She did, however, remain on the stage where she had returned in 1956, her first love. After a series of strokes, Claudette divided her time between New York and Barbados. On July 30, 1996, Claudette died in Speightstown, Barbados. She was 92.
BornSeptember 13, 1903
DiedJuly 30, 1996(92)
BornSeptember 13, 1903
DiedJuly 30, 1996(92)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 10 wins & 3 nominations total

Photos809

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Claudette Colbert and Walter Connolly in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Claudette Colbert and Jameson Thomas in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Claudette Colbert and Walter Connolly in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Claudette Colbert and Walter Connolly in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, and Alan Hale in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)

Known for:

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä (1934)
Tapahtuipa eräänä yönä
8.1
  • Ellie Andrews
  • 1934
Veronica Lake, Claudette Colbert, George Reeves, Paulette Goddard, Walter Abel, Barbara Britton, and Sonny Tufts in Me tervehdimme elämää (1943)
Me tervehdimme elämää
7.4
  • Lt. Janet 'Davy' Davidson
  • 1943
Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert in Siniparran kahdeksas vaimo (1938)
Siniparran kahdeksas vaimo
7.2
  • Nicole De Loiselle
  • 1938
Shirley Temple, Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotten, and Jennifer Jones in Kunnes palaat (1944)
Kunnes palaat
7.5
  • Anne Hilton
  • 1944

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Ann-Margret and Claudette Colbert in Grenvillen kaksi naista (1987)
    Grenvillen kaksi naista
    7.5
    TV Mini Series
    • Alice Grenville
    • 1987
  • Troy Donahue, Sharon Hugueny, Diane McBain, and Connie Stevens in Unohtumaton kesä (1961)
    Unohtumaton kesä
    6.5
    • Ellen McLean
    • 1961
  • Dick Powell in Zane Grey Theatre (1956)
    Zane Grey Theatre
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Beth Brayden
    • Lucy Bradford
    • 1957–1960
  • The Bells of St. Mary's
    7.6
    TV Movie
    • Sister Benedict
    • 1959
  • Suspicion (1957)
    Suspicion
    8.2
    TV Series
    • 1958
  • Colgate Theatre (1958)
    Colgate Theatre
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Elizabeth Harper
    • 1958
  • Ronald Reagan in Se parhaiten nauraa... (1953)
    Se parhaiten nauraa...
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Edith Miller
    • 1958
  • Greer Garson and Florenz Ames in Telephone Time (1956)
    Telephone Time
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Mary Roberts Rinehart
    • 1957
  • "Eighty Yard Run, The" (Playhouse 90) Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. 1957 CBS
    Playhouse 90
    8.4
    TV Series
    • Betsy Gregg
    • 1957
  • Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
    Robert Montgomery Presents
    7.9
    TV Series
    • 1956
  • Judy Garland in Ford Star Jubilee (1955)
    Ford Star Jubilee
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Ruth Condomine
    • 1956
  • Claudette Colbert in Revolverihurjimus (1955)
    Revolverihurjimus
    5.5
    • Prudence Webb (as Claudette Colber)
    • 1955
  • Climax! (1954)
    Climax!
    6.7
    TV Series
    • Sister Cecilia
    • Dr. Jane Everest
    • 1955
  • The Ford Television Theatre (1952)
    The Ford Television Theatre
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Elizabeth Hopkins
    • Lorna Gilbert
    • 1955
  • The Best of Broadway (1954)
    The Best of Broadway
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Actress
    • Julie Cavendish
    • 1954–1955

Soundtrack

  • Shirley Temple, Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotten, and Jennifer Jones in Kunnes palaat (1944)
    Kunnes palaat
    7.5
    • music: "Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz) op.437" (1889)
    • performer: "Together" (1928), "Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz) op.437" (1889), "Happy Birthday to You" (1893) (uncredited)
    • 1944
  • Claudette Colbert and Ray Milland in Lentävä reportterimme (1940)
    Lentävä reportterimme
    6.8
    • performer: "Dream Lover" (1929) (uncredited)
    • 1940
  • Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, and Hedy Lamarr in Humukaupunki (1940)
    Humukaupunki
    7.0
    • performer: "Polly Wolly Doodle" (uncredited)
    • 1940
  • Charles Boyer and Claudette Colbert in Tovarich (1937)
    Tovarich
    7.1
    • performer: "Chto Mnie Gore" (uncredited)
    • 1937
  • Claudette Colbert, Ronald Colman, and Victor McLaglen in Under Two Flags (1936)
    Under Two Flags
    6.4
    • performer: "One-Two-Three-Four-Hey!" (1936) (uncredited)
    • 1936
  • Claudette Colbert in Torch Singer (1933)
    Torch Singer
    6.7
    • performer: "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Love" (1933), "Don't Be a Cry Baby" (1933), "It's a Long Dark Night" (1933), "The Slumber Boat" (1898) ("Give Me Liberty or Give Me Love" (1933), "It's a Long Dark Night" (1933))
    • 1933
  • Maurice Chevalier in Hymyilevä luutnantti (1931)
    Hymyilevä luutnantti
    7.2
    • performer: "While Hearts Are Singing" (1931), "Breakfast Table Love" (1931), "Jazz Up Your Lingerie" (1931) (uncredited)
    • 1931

Videos17

Trailer
Trailer 2:01
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 4:16
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:40
Official Trailer
Teaser Trailer
Trailer 1:16
Teaser Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:52
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:30
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:19
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:44
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:09
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:46
Official Trailer
It Happened One Night -- Trailer
Trailer 2:31
It Happened One Night -- Trailer
Parrish
Trailer 3:16
Parrish

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Claudette Colber
  • Height
    • 1.64 m
  • Born
    • September 13, 1903
    • Saint-Mandé, Seine [now Val-de-Marne], France
  • Died
    • July 30, 1996
    • Speightstown, Barbados(after a series of strokes)
  • Spouses
      Dr. Joel James PressmanDecember 24, 1935 - February 26, 1968 (his death)
  • Other works
    Magazine advertisement: Chesterfield cigarettes
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Biographical Movies
    • 4 Print Biographies
    • 8 Interviews
    • 27 Articles
    • 8 Pictorials
    • 31 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Most shots of her in her films were of her left profile. She considered her left side to be her best and only rarely allowed full face or right profile shots; an injury to her nose had created a bump on the right. Once an entire set had to be rebuilt so she would not have to show her right side, resulting in some cameramen calling the right side of her face "the dark side of the moon".
  • Quotes
    Most of us don't know about happiness until it's over.
  • Trademarks
      Apple-shaped face and big eyes
  • Nickname
    • Lily
  • Salaries
      Valkoinen nainen viidakossa
      (1952)
      £20,000 approx

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